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Essex CC Champs – Individual Junior Golds and 6 Team Medals

It was a fantastic start to 2025for Woodford at the Essex Cross County Champs held in Basildon (Gloucester Park) on Saturday 4th January. In the individual competitions Eric Frith won the U13 Boys and George Watkins the U15 Boys. The squad also won six team medals across the age groups (U13-U17). 

Essex County Championships

The championships have individual and team competitions, for boys and girls in each age group. The first three individual athletes in each race win medals. The first six go forward as possible selections to represent Essex at the Inter Counties in March (Nottingham). The team competition is based on a “four to score.” If an athlete wins they score one point for the team. If second, they score 2 points and so forth. The finishing position of every club’s first four athletes are added together and the club with the lowest total score wins the competition. 

Course

Gloucester Park is hilly. It starts and finishes on grass sports pitches in a lower field. The mid-section of course is most challenging. Athletes traverse up two long, steep inclines and eventually run back down into the lower field for a single lap. Conditions were muddy, but frosty conditions meant it was firmer underfoot. 

U13 Boys – 3.1km (2 small laps)

Eric Frith produced an outstanding run to win the race in 11mins 15s and become Essex U13 Boys Champion. Eric won in commanding fashion. Leading from the front he opened a 10 second gap on the chasing pack on lap one (1500m). He extended this to 15 seconds on lap two and was clear of runner up Oliver Lupon (SS Athletics) and third placed Mason Sandford (Chelmsford). Eric has been put forward for selection for the Essex CAU Inter Counties team and offered a place in the Eastern Regional team at the London Mini Marathon in April.

Champion Eric Frith with coach Joe Everitt

Oskar Prince (8th) ran well in a small chase pack behind the leaders, finishing just 5 seconds outside the top 6 in a close fought race. Oskar was selected to represent Essex in the Southern Inter-Counties (cancelled in December) after a top 8 finish in the Essex league on this course in November. Whilst finishing outside the top 6 on this occasion, he can be proud of his achievements this winter. William Smith (15th) was next back and ran well off limited training over a busy Christmas. William was also selected to represent Essex in the Southern Inter Counties and showed great potential in his first full winter season with the club. Daniel Hayden (38th) had an inspired second lap, gaining 3 places which were very important to the team. Daniel has really progressed this winter and closed the A team (four to score). 

SS Athletics (26 points) were Essex team champions ahead of Chelmsford (49 points). Woodford (62 points) were third taking bronze medals in a fine result for the boys. 

U13 Girls – 3.1km (2 small laps)

Madison Kindler (Brentwood Beagles) won the race in 11mins 58s. Madison is currently ranked No1 in the UK for 800m and 1500m. Regular county representative Beatrix Cooke (Chelmsford) was second in 12mins 13s and Isla Kehoe (Chelmsford) third in 12mins 20s. 

It was a high-quality race and Woodford’s Eva Prince (8th) was well up the field leading a strong Woodford team home in 13mins 10s. It was a brave run as the field strung out behind the leaders and Eva running solo for large parts. Eva was another selected to represent Essex in the Southern Inter Counties and, despite ending outside the top 6 on this occasion, she remains a high performing county athlete. Grace Cherry (12th) was next home running 13mins 54s with another brave run. Grace had a niggle over Christmas and as a lower year athlete will be back in 2026 with eyes on the podium. The fast improving Lottie Oates (13th) and Poppy Barker (14th) were right behind Grace. They packed well and looked strong into the finish to close the A team in 14 places. 

Chloe Summers (19th) overcame her pre-race nerves, executing a superb run to lead the B team home in 14mins 50s. Rosie Anderson (20th), as a keen hurdler, enjoyed the hay bales on the course and was right behind Chloe with team-mate Maia Lalani (21st) who had her best run for the club and Isabella Lester (27th) packing superbly to close the B team in 27 places. Aoife Pearce (31st) had an excellent run giving it everything, with team-mate Rosie Muffett (42nd) closing the team with a very brave run having felt unwell over New Year. 

Woodford (47 points) A team were second overall taking silver medals behind winners Chelmsford (21 points). SS Athletics (57 points) were third and Woodford B team fourth with a tremendous result, finishing ahead of historically strong teams from Havering and Southend. 

U15 Boys - 4.3km

George Watkins loves his long distance running and dominated this race from start to finish to win the Essex U15 Boys title. It was a fantastic run from George who completed the course in 14mins 43s ahead of second placed Joe Delaney (Chelmsford) and Jacob Parrott (Chelmsford) who were nearly a minute behind.

George Watkins stretches away to a comfortable victory

Lucas Freedman (9th) had his best run this winter to secure a spot in the top ten. Lucas ran 16mins 16s and was rightly pleased with his performance. His speed enabled him to gain two places over the final 50m. Stephen Ng (20th) had an outstanding run, battling in a small pack of four athletes for most of his race and running 17mins 4s. Team-mate Adam Amin (27th) impressed on his first county outing and closed the A team in 17mins 44s. 

Kaden Nelson-Gursoy (36) and Tayo Adetona (39) ran well opening the B team for the club. Both are lower year athletes for cross county and adapting well to the step up in distance. 

Woodford (57 points) were third in the team event, just 2 points worse off than second placed Brentwood Beagles (55 points) with Chelmsford (22 points) well deserved winners. 

U15 Girls - 4.3km

Regular county stalwart Summer Smith (Brentwood) won the race in 16mins 6s ahead of teammate Heidi Woodley and Ezrah Harrold (Chelmsford). These clubs have huge endurance teams in this age group and five Chelmsford athletes finished in the top ten. 

This did not deter Jasmine Hall (10th) who had an outstanding run and secured her place in the top ten in a high-quality field. Jasmine ran 17mins 47s and, although slightly disappointed with her position, she is in a strong county set up dominated by athletes mostly focused on running.  Jasmine attacks her running from the perspective of a swimmer and those fresh legs over the years might just see her pass all before her as a senior athlete!

U15 Girls - Jasmine Hall leads the team home in 10th place

Sophia Parker (28th) was delighted with her run finishing in 20mins 46s and is starting to see the benefits of plans she has followed diligently over the last few months. Isla Fulling (32nd) was next home and, despite being disappointed with her run, is another athlete who has been selected for Essex and performed well at county level this winter. Alice Padian (48th) closed the A team in 24mins 31s. Alice was disappointed, but she ran off very limited training over Christmas and is building up her experience at county level in her first full winter at the club. 

Chelmsford (18 points) won the Essex team event ahead of Brentwood Beagles (32 points) and Havering AC (44 points). Woodford (118 points) A team finished in 6thplace. 

U17Men - 5.2km

Jacob Hurrell (Chelmsford) won the race in 20mins 14s ahead of Toby Jones (Southend AC) and Freddie Rowe (Havering AC). These 3 were over a minute clear of the chasing pack. Woodford’s Harry Stockill (12th) had initially gone with the leaders and was looking strong but suffered in the middle of the race with stitch. He could not shake it off and was left disappointed with his result running 22mins 19s. Harry is a proven athlete at county level and will be back. 

Josh Stephenson (13th) had a better experience and ran well, finishing just outside the top ten in 22mins 29s. He was delighted. Teammate William Muffett (15th) had been unwell over New Year but bravely ran for the team to ensure they had 4 athletes to score. He ran 23mins 11s and secured the points for the team. Aidan O’Driscoll (16th) is another coming back to fitness after injury and started to find his feet in this race, looking strong finishing in 23mins 20s to close the A team. 

Woodford were second in the team event and collected silver medals. They were hoping for gold and will be back next year. Chelmsford (50 points) won with Basildon AC (59 points) in third place.

The U17 Men celebrate silver medals (Josh Stephenson, William Muffett, Harry Stockill & Aidan O’Driscoll)

U17 Women - 5.2km

The final race of the day (which raised eyebrows over the timetable) was the U17 Women. International middle distance athlete Olivia Forrest won the race in 20mins 15s despite not looking at her full flowing best she was still a minute clear of the chasing pack with Lottie Wilkin (Chelmsford) in second and Evangeline Warn (Brentwood) in third. 

Molly Sherrin (5th) was right behind the lead group, with a characteristically gutsy run. Carrying a slight niggle, Molly set out hoping her legs would hold and was rewarded for her efforts with a position just outside the top three running 22mins to lead the A team home. 

Ella Traynor (18th) continued her comeback to racing and was pleased to be back competing at county level for the team. Ella ran 25mins 47s and was joined for most of the race by teammate Summer Maw (19th) who found the going tough but ran superbly considering her training had been limited over the festive period. Matilda Frith (24th) was just behind her teammates and ran well especially given how strung out the field had become over the 5.3km course and ran solo for the last part which required a lot of focus. Matilda closed the A team for the girls. 

Woodford (66 points) were runners up in the team event taking silver medals behind winners Chelmsford (28 points) and third placed Havering AC (75 points).

U17 Women Silver Medallists (Molly Sherrin, Ella Traynor, Summer Maw & Matilda Frith)  

U11s - Developmental Race

The county held its first developmental race this year. Over 60 athletes competed in the race run over 1500m.  In the boy’s race Dylan Law (Chelmsford) won in 5mins 38s ahead of Roan Stringer (Colchester & Tendering). Jack Tonge (3rd) was third in 5mins 46s with teammates Jesse Geller (4th), Patrick Langan (24th) and George Davies (35th) completing a team which, if medals had been awarded, would have been overall winners. In the Girls race, Chloe Ward (3rd) was an excellent third place, proving her class at county level as she ran 6mins 18s.  Phoebe Quorn (7th) also showed her potential at county level, running 6mins 41s to finish comfortably in the top ten. Teammate Phoebe Woods (15th) was just behind and ran well, adding to her experience at this level in her first full winter with the club. 

Summary

It was a terrific morning of racing with two county champions and six team medals going to Woodford athletes. The endurance team have competed well locally and at county level this year and are making good progress at national levels. We wish all the athletes selected for the county good luck in the Inter-Counties and, as always, huge thanks go out to the parents and volunteers that make these events happen.